Device for delivering hot water

Abstract

Device for delivering hot water comprising a hot water tank (1) in which a thermostatically controlled heating unit (3) is provided, a syphon (4) for the removal of hot water, the inlet opening of which syphon is situated at a first level (5), a cold water inlet pipe (6) in which a shut-off valve (7) controlled by a control unit (8) is provided, and a level probe (10) at a second level (9) above the highest point of the syphon. After the opening of the shut-off valve in response to a start signal the level probe (10) detects when the rising surface of the water has reached the second level and then delivers a signal to the control unit in order to close the shut-off valve. A second level probe at a third level above the first level but below the second level, provides an "open" signal to the shut-off valve unless the presettable end setting of a counter, counting the number of generated "open" signals, has been reached.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for delivering hot water, comprising: (a) a water tank;   (b) a thermostatically controlled heating unit installed at a relatively low level within said water tank;   (c) a syphonic tube for discharging hot water from the tank, said tube being installed in a sidewall of said tank, whereby an inside end of said tube is at a level above the heating unit;   (d) a cold water inlet pipe connected to the tank at a level underneath said heating unit;   (e) a shut-off valve, installed in the cold water inlet pipe and controlled by a control unit;   (f) two water level detecting probes, the first probe being positioned at a first level above the inside end of the syphonic tube and the second probe being positioned at a second level above the inside end of the syphonic tube but below the first level, wherein said first probe delivers a signal to the control unit which in response closes the shut-off valve as soon as the water reaches the first level, and said second probe delivers a signal to the control unit as soon as the water reaches the second level; and   (g) a start means to provide a start signal to the control unit which in response opens the shut-off valve, wherein said control unit comprises a counter, which is presettable to a predetermined end setting and advances by one step from an initial setting every time a signal is received from said first probe and generates a signal to open the shut-off valve as the signal from the second probe is received unless said presettable end setting of the counter has been reached.     
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second level is situated immediately above the level of the inside end of the syphonic tube. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counter passes through a maximum number of steps, which maximum corresponds to the delivery of a specific quantity of hot water via the syphonic tube, said quantity being equal to or somewhat less than the capacity of the hot water tank above the heating unit in the quiescent state. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cold water inlet pipe debouches at the bottom of the tank. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cold water flowing in from the cold water inlet pipe is directed approximately vertically upwards and that an essentially horizontal deflection plate is provided below the heating unit at a short distance from the debouchement of the cold water inlet pipe.